Lust has existed ever since sin entered the world. Everyone has dealt with it at one point or another. God designed sexual intimacy between married men and women, anything outside of that is lust and sin. Jesus takes the Old Testament laws a step further, and tells us that we are to not only commit acts of adultery, but to resist and fight our natural tendencies of lust.
When most people think about the Law of the Old Testament, they usually only think about words and sentences. However, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows us the depth and reality of the heart behind God’s wonderful Law.
Matthew 5:21-46 has been regarded as, “The Antithesis” portion of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus shifts in his sermon and begins to establish a new Law. Jesus does not condemn the Law of the Old Testament, but rather fulfills it and gives his people, Kingdom Citizens a new way to live.
Our culture typically honors those with the strongest abilities, best looks, and toward success. However, in God’s kingdom, greatness is not measured by what others think about us and our accomplishments, but on our submission to Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Many people incorrectly believe that Jesus did away with the Old Testament and made it obsolete. However, in this sermon we see Christ did not erase the Law but fulfilled it perfectly. Now, through the Holy Spirit, we are renewed and enabled to obey the Law.
Jesus is not the backup plan for the Old Testament or completely separated from it. When studied properly, we see Christ throughout the entire Bible. He promised in the Old Testament, arrives in the New Testament, and teaches us that all of God’sWord is about him and fulfilled in him.
One of the most piercing metaphors of Jesus is the command for believers to be salt and light in the world. As kingdom citizens, we are to influence our culture by putting Christ in our hearts and in every deed that we do. When we live this way, we will truly impact the world for God’s kingdom.
Following Jesus costs us everything. As kingdom citizens, we are to face the world and suffer for the sake of righteousness.
Everybody wants peace, but how do we know what peace truly is? Many look at the Sermon on the Mount and think that if only people could live this way the world would be a better place. That is very true, however the Sermon is not about our capabilities, but rather our inability to live this way apart from Christ. It is by grace through faith that we can know the Prince of Peace and be peacemakers for his kingdom.
Jesus commands his people to love him with all their hearts. This means loving him with our entire being, our feelings, emotions, and efforts. For those that are pure in heart, they desire to be like Christ more than anything else, knowing that despite our shortcoming will see God one day.
Many times, we often think that we must be pure in our hearts for God to fill our hearts. However, Christ teaches us that the only way to have a pure heart is to be first be filled by God. Failing to understand this truth will always result in failed attempts to satisfy God.
The Christian life is not about superficial behavior or surface level change. Being a kingdom citizens means that we are changed by God deep within our soul. For this reason, Christ commands us to be merciful and gracious even towards those who do not deserve it.
In this sermon, we continue our discussion from last week and take a look at what it means hunger for the things that please God.
As kingdom citizens we are to seek righteousness and die to ourself daily. This means no longer living for ourselves but living for Christ and his glory.
Both the saved and unsaved mourn, it’s a part of everyday life. However, Christ teaches us that those who follow him as kingdom citizens, are people who mourn their sin and run to him for every need.
Both the saved and unsaved mourn, it’s a part of everyday life. However, Christ teaches us that those who follow him as kingdom citizens, are people who mourn their sin and run to him for every need.
Being poor in spirit does not mean that we do away with our gifts and talents that God has given us, it means that those things are no longer first in our life once we put our faith in Christ. As kingdom citizens, we are to put Christ first in our life over everything else.
Everyone wants to be happy. However, the happiness that the world, sin, and our flesh offers is only temporary and always fading. For this reason, Christ reminds us that true, everlasting, sustaining joy and happiness can only be found in him.
The Sermon on the Mount is not rightly understood until we have grasped and understood it as a whole, not just in its parts. Unfortunately most people only understand bits and pieces of the King's Manifesto. In this sermon, we take a look at Matthew 5 to better understand the Sermon on the Mount in its entirety.
In Matthew, Jesus delivers his manifesto to his people. As his followers and citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are to obey and follow the commands of our King in all that we do.
Jesus is alive! Celebrate our Savior’s resurrection with us!
On the cross we see the perfect love of God put on display for us. In love God chose us, and in love he sent Jesus. In love Jesus lived a perfect life, and in love he laid his life down on the cross. It was a dark day, the day that God died, and yet we call it Good Friday. John tells us how and why in chapters 17-19.
It’s Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Today we reflect on Matthew 21 and Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. The entire country knows that Jesus has raised a dead man, healed the blind, and cured the sick. Everyone worships Jesus because their king has finally arrived.
